Fred Haise

Fred Haise was a pilot and an astronaut.

He flew many fast jets in the sky. He also worked for NASA.

He flew a ship to the Moon on Apollo 13.

His crew went very far from Earth. They traveled a long way.

Fred was going to walk on the Moon. But the trip had to stop. He did not walk on the Moon.

Later, Fred helped test the Space Shuttle.

He helped make sure it could land safely. This helped many people fly in space.

Fred worked hard to learn about flight. He is a famous pilot.

Fred Haise was a pilot and an astronaut.

He spent many years flying fast jets. He also worked as an engineer.

In 1970, Fred flew on the Apollo 13 mission. He was the Lunar Module pilot. This means he helped fly the small ship that was meant to land on the Moon.

Fred was going to be the sixth person to walk on the Moon. However, the mission had to stop before they landed.

During the trip, Fred and his crew traveled a very long way. They hold a record for being the farthest humans from Earth.

Fred also dealt with painful kidney infections while in space.

Later, Fred helped test the Space Shuttle.

He flew a shuttle named Enterprise. He helped test how the ship would land. These tests were a big step for the Space Shuttle program. Fred retired from NASA in 1979. He is the last living crew member from the Apollo 13 mission.

Fred Haise was a brave pilot and a skilled NASA astronaut.

He spent much of his life studying how things fly. He worked as an engineer and a fighter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. His life was full of many different flying jobs. He even flew many different types of fast jets. These experiences helped him prepare for the hard work of space travel. He is a very important part of space history today.

In 1970, Fred flew on the famous Apollo 13 mission.

He served as the Lunar Module pilot. This role meant he was responsible for the small ship meant to land on the Moon. He was supposed to be the sixth person to walk on the Moon. However, the landing was aborted while the crew was still on their way. Because of this, the crew had to turn back toward Earth instead. This mission became one of the most well-known trips in space history.

During this flight, Fred and his crew traveled a record-breaking distance.

Along with Jim Lovell and Jack Swigert, he traveled farther from Earth than any humans ever had. It was a very long journey through the dark of space. While they were flying, Fred also dealt with a hard job. He developed kidney infections that caused him a lot of pain. Even with this pain, he was part of a successful trip home.

Fred also helped test the new Space Shuttle program in 1977.

He was the commander for the Approach and Landing Tests. He flew a shuttle named Enterprise to see how it would land. These tests were very important for making sure the shuttle could fly safely later.

These tests helped the whole program succeed. He later left NASA in 1979 to work for a company called Grumman Aerospace Corporation.

Fred's life shows how much training it takes to be an astronaut.

He grew up in Biloxi, Mississippi, and studied hard in college. He earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1959. He has received many high honors, like the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Today, he is the last surviving crew member of the Apollo 13 mission. His story is a big part of how we learned to explore the stars.

Fred Wallace Haise Jr. is a retired American astronaut and engineer.

He is a significant figure in space exploration history. Haise was one of 24 people to fly to the Moon. He is most famous for his role in the Apollo 13 mission. He served as the Lunar Module pilot for that flight. This mission was intended to land humans on the lunar surface. Instead, it became a famous journey of survival and return. He is currently the last surviving crew member of Apollo 13. He is also the last surviving Apollo astronaut who flew to the Moon without landing.

Haise's career began with extensive training in aviation and engineering. He was born on November 14, 1933, in Biloxi, Mississippi. He later earned a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering. He graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma in 1959. Before joining NASA, he was a highly experienced pilot. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force. He also worked in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Over his career, he accumulated 9,300 hours of flying time. This included 6,200 hours flying high-speed jets. This deep expertise prepared him for the rigors of spaceflight.

In 1966, Haise was selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 5. He was the first person in his group assigned to a mission. He initially served as the backup Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 8 and Apollo 11. For the Apollo 13 mission, his role was officially the Lunar Module pilot. The Lunar Module is the specialized spacecraft designed to land on the Moon. Haise was scheduled to be the sixth person to walk on the Moon. However, the mission was aborted while the crew was en route. This change meant the crew could not complete the landing.

The Apollo 13 mission was a journey of extreme distance and physical challenge. Haise flew alongside Jim Lovell and Jack Swigert. Together, they set a record for the farthest distance from Earth traveled by humans. During the flight, Haise faced serious health issues. He developed a urinary tract infection and kidney infections. These medical conditions caused him significant pain during the trip. Despite these difficulties, the crew managed to return safely to Earth. The mission eventually reached the Fra Mauro formation area, though the landing was aborted.

After his time on the Apollo program, Haise contributed to the Space Shuttle program. In 1977, he participated in the Approach and Landing Tests (ALT).

He served as the commander for these critical tests. He piloted the Space Shuttle Enterprise during free flight tests. These tests were performed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The goal was to verify the shuttle's flight characteristics. This was an essential step for the success of the entire program. Haise was the only one of the four Enterprise test pilots who did not eventually fly in space on the Shuttle.

Haise's life also included moments of personal bravery and resilience. In 1973, he was piloting a Convair BT-13 aircraft in Texas. The plane suffered a power plant failure during a landing attempt. This led to a crash landing that resulted in a fire. Haise suffered second-degree burns over 50 percent of his body. He recovered from these injuries and continued his professional work. He later worked for the Grumman Aerospace Corporation until his retirement in 1996. In 2022, he published his autobiography titled *Never Panic Early*. This book covers his experiences within the Apollo program.

Throughout his life, Haise has received many prestigious honors. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1997, he was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. His hometown of Biloxi, Mississippi, honored him with a statue in 2022. The statue was created by artist Mary Ott Tremel Davidson. His career connects the era of early lunar exploration to the development of the Space Shuttle.